Esoteric DV50S, Any Plans to Discontinue?

If you want to upgrade, look into the $8,000 Esoteric UX-3 Universal Player instead of the $6,000 DV-50S. For a couple thousand more, the UX-3 is light years ahead of the DV-50S in quality of construction, and sound. Today the ML-39 equivalent is the ML-390S which goes for $6,700 and specializes only in CDs. To get the same quality CD playback in a universal player, you would have to spend at least $8000. Remember that a universal player has SACD, DVD, DVD-A, as well as 2 channel redbook CD.

An alternative plan would be to upgrade the ML-39 to the ML-390S for $6700, and buy a cheap Universal Player for $1,300. Personally, I think the first idea makes much more sense.

But the UX-3 does not do multi-channel DVD-A/SACD...FWTW. I have a lot of DVD-A and SACD and still find myself mostly listening to them in two-channel.

any thoughts on how the UX3 compares to the X0-3? i know the latter doesn't play any DVD formats, but does that mean its substantially better for CD & SACD?

rhyno

Dbld I didn't know that . Thanks for the headsup. My plan is to use the Logic 7 in the Lexicon MC-4 Digital Processor to create the multichannels from 2 channels on the DVD-A, and SACD discs. I've ben told that the MC-4 does a better job in most cases than what is on the original disc. For example, some multichannel discs have musical instruments coming out the rear speakers; whereas the MC-4 uses the back speakers for ambience only. This is the correct procedure in my opinion.

I agree about the rear channels for ambience. As soon as you hear a lead guitar behind you, you tend to want to turn around and look.